Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable cancer of the parenchyma of
the liver

- Liver metastases allowed

- Limited unresectable extrahepatic disease (including but not limited to the
following) is allowed provided the life-threatening component of progressive disease
is in liver:

- Up to 4 pulmonary nodules each less than 1 cm in diameter

- Retroperitoneal lymph nodes less than 3 cm in diameter

- Fewer than 10 skin or subcutaneous metastases less than 1 cm in diameter

- Asymptomatic bone metastases that have been or can be palliated with
radiotherapy

- Solitary metastasis to any site that can be resected

- Prior therapy with intrahepatic perfusion with or without hepatic arterial infusion
with floxuridine is allowed provided patient had a radiographic partial response of
3-months duration

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 14 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,300/mm^3

- Hematocrit greater than 27%

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

- PT within 2 seconds of upper limit of normal

- No biopsy-proven cirrhosis with evidence of portal hypertension by history,
endoscopy, or radiologic study

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR

- Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

- No prior congestive heart failure with LVEF less than 40%

Pulmonary:

- No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

- No other chronic pulmonary disease

- FEV_1 at least 30% of predicted

- DLCO at least 40% of predicted

Other:

- Weight greater than 35 kg

- HIV negative

- No active infections

- No severe allergic reaction to iodine contrast not controlled by antihistamines or
steroids

- No known prior hypersensitivity reaction to melphalan

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 1 month since prior biologic therapy for the malignancy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 1 month since prior chemotherapy for the malignancy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 1 month since prior radiotherapy for the malignancy and recovered

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- No concurrent chronic anticoagulants

- No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs